Emergency release valve



Sept. 20, 1932. F. x. SMITH EMERGENCY RELEASE VALVE Filed Nov. 8, 1830 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 Mao lsrArss PATENT oFicE rRANcIs x. SMITH, or NEW YoRK, N. Y., AssIeNo or oNE-HALR 'ro GEORGE W;

BEATTY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YoRK V V EMERGENCY RELEAsE vALv'E- Application filed November This invention relates to improvements in emergency release valves and 1s an improvement over that type of valve shown in appli-' cation Serial No. 488,441, filed October 13,

1 1930 by George W. Beatty in which I am assignee of part interest.

This invention resides in an automatic valve device for releasing the liquid content of a vessel or container when subjected to a predetermined temperature to prevent the liquid content from being affected by a temperature which might be injurious to the liquid or to the vessel in which it is con-' tained.; For instance, the device might be installed upon a water tank, automobile radiator or the like, and set to operate should the temperature approach the freezing point, to avoid solidifying of the content and the possible breaking of the vessel due to expansion. These features are clearly set forth in the above mentioned application, but'this devlce differs therefrom in detailsof construction and certain refinements which not only reduces the cost of manufacture and improves the appearance of the device, but also renders the device more positive of operation, and facilitates the quick reassembling of the parts after each operation.

' lVith these and other objects in view, the

invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of wh ch are hereinafter fully described, are partlcularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawlng, in

which: V l;

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of my release valve attached to acontainer or vessel, a portion of the same being shown in section. 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged verticallongitudivention.

Referring to the drawlng by reference 8, 1930. Serial No. 494,373;

characters, the numeral 10 designates my improved emergency release valve in its entlretywhich includes a head 11 having a bore 12 therethrough and a threaded nipple 13 extending from one side of the head, while extending from the opposite side is a reduced annular portion 14 within which is an en-- l'arged recess 15 which communicates with the bore 12. The sides of the head 11 are provided with flat nut surfaces with which a wrench may engage for screwing the nipple 13 to the vessel on which the valve is to be installed.

F ixedly secured in the side walls of the reduced portion 14'and diametrically opposed,

are pins 16, theinner ends of which extend into the recess 15 while the outer ends extend beyond the sides of the reduced portion 14.

The inner side walls of the recess 15 are provided with an annular beveled seat 17 with which a valve member 18 coacts. The valve member 18 is in the form of a disc provided with a beveled side wall 19 and with a cavity 20 in its under side, while extending from the opposite side of. the disc or valve member is a stud 21 the same being provided with a spiral groove 22 for a purpose to be presently explained. The stud 21 rises centrally of the valve member and threadedly connected to the stud 21 is the pointed end of an inverted conical spring 23. Certain of the convolutions of the sprin -23 are received in the spiral groove 22 on the stud 21, while the enlarged or base end of the spring seats against the top of the 'recess 15. Certain of the convolutions at the base end of the spring are engaged by the pins 16, and which serve to hold the spring connected to the head, while the spring in turn supports or is connected to the valve member 18.

Telescoping the reduced portion 14 of the head is the open end of a cylindrical casing 23, the bottom of which supports a cup shaped member 24, which is rigidly secured within the casing and extending through the bottom of the casing and the cap 24 is a'drain outlet 25. diametrically opposed bayonet slots '26 which open through the peripheral edge of the open end of the casing, and which slots receive-the The casing 23 is provided with 1 base than at its top, the top convolution being engageable with a breakable liquid'contain ing element 29 which in the'presentinstance able bulb has been shown and mentioned, it will be understood that various other types of fuses may beused in connection withthedevice such as afusible metal ball whichwill 'melt under a predetermined temperature.

30 seated upon the seat 17 due to the pressure exerted by the spring 128 against the break,--

able element 29 which in turn is engaging the valve member. In order that the breakable element 29 maybe seen without remov ing the casing 23,1provicle window openings 31 in the'side walls of the casi-ng,-and if desired,=the said openings may berclosed by isinglassorthe like, to cause the entire liquid released by the valve when opening topass the discharged liquid will pass out of the window openings '31 in addition to'thedis charge outlet 25.

In practice, device such as I have shownand described'may be installed upon any tank or vessel containing a'liquid which is adaptedtobe released when thetemperature reachesua' predetermined degree; For 1n-- stance it may be desired to protect the com sel. that the bulb will break by reason of 'a temcome spent, whereupon the tension-of+thespring 23 will move the valve member 18 to the open position shown -in Figure ,3. -'VV-l1en in this position, thefliquid content of the V687 G5 sel is free to flow through the-casing in the lowermost"convolution of a helical spring-- 28. This spring 28 is slightly wider at its Thetop of-the breakable element29 seats in through the discharge outlet 25; Asshown,

tents of a vessel or radiatorfromfreezing whereupon the emergency release valve 10 may be'screwed intothe bottom B of the ves The contents 30'of the bulb 29 is such perature higher than the temperature for the freezing of the liquid contents of the vesselm Assuming that the valve *member 18 is in closed position-asshown in Figure 2=and the breakable-element 29 should become shat 'la'r ed recess provided therein, a valve seat. tered,=the tenslon of the spring-28 will-be provided on the walls of'said recess, a valve direction of the arrows shown in Figure 3 and out through the discharge opening 25. In addition to the above function of the spring 23, the same will loosen any accumulation which might interfere with the free I flow of liquid released from the vessel.

After one operation of therelease valve, it becomes necessary to reset the same, whereupon the casing 23 may be quickly separated from the'he'a'd by merely imparting aslight' turn theretd and pulling downward upon the casing so as to separate the pins 16 from the bayonetslots'."The operator proceeds to placea new breakable element 29 upon the 15 is shown as a hollow globularglass bulb conl taining a liquid 30. Although a glass break-- top of the spring 28 which automatically 89 'centers the-element 29with respect to the,

valve-member 18-so that when theicasingu is againconnected to the head 11, the break able element- 29 accurately seats with the cavity 20 and effects a'more perfect seating of the valve member 18 upon its seat {17. By

these various-improvements in construction,- llJ'Wlll be-understood'tha-ttherelease valvewill operate more eficiently and more-positively as the arrangement of thesprings and 90 their relation to other parts is such that there a is no possibility of the valve member sticking and not opening when released.-- Furthermore, the construction of thls devlce over the device mentioned-1n the pend ng apph-i cationrenders the valve simple and inexpensive in manufactureand easy in assembly and inthe-resettingof the valve. v

Having thus described theinvention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i I .1. An emergency release valve comprising a head'having a bore whichopens into anenlarged recess thereima valve seat provided on the-walls of, saidrecess, a valve member s for engagement with said seat, an lIlVGIlA-Bd conical-spring havingoneof its ends secured in said recess and its other end connected to said valve membercentrally thereof, a thermal responsive breakable liquid containing element seated against said valve member, a

casing-'havinga drain outlet, means for detachably-seeuring said casing to said head, i said meansincluding locking pins which eX tend into said recess and which engage certain of the convolutions of said inverted con ical spring tosecure the same within said re cess, and a spring interposed betweensaid breakable liquid containing element and one end of said casing to maintain the breakable 7 element in f seated position.

2. Anemergency release valve comprising a a lleilClhiLVlIlg aboreopenmg-intoan enmember for engagement with said seat and having a cavity in one side thereof,a stud extending centrally from said valve member; from the opposite side-thereof, said stud hav ing a spiral groove externally therein, a

conical spring having its base end seated against a Wall of said recess and the convolutions of the pointed end threaded to said spiral groove in said stud, a thermal responsive breakable element seated in said cavity, a hollow casing having a drain opening therein, means for detachably connecting said hollow casing to said head and a spring having one end seated against said breakable elementand its opposite end anchored to one end Wall of said casing, said last mentioned spring being of a greater tension than the tension of said conical spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANCIS X. SMITH. 

